Sheet feeder



Oct. 9, 1928.

E. W. BELLUCHE SHEET FEEDER Original Filed March 12, 1925 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 wuamtoz Oct. 9, 1928.

E. W. BELLUCHE SHEET FEEDER I Original Filed March 12, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct 9, 1928. 1,686,510

E. W. BELLUCHE 5mm FEEDER Original Filed March 12, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 9, 1928 E. W. BELLUCHE srmm' FEEDER Original Filed March .12, legs I '1 fsp gsts-heet 5 Oct. 9, 1928. $686,510

E. w. BELLUGHE. I

' SHEET FEEDER Original Filed March 12, 1925 *7 heeis-sheet 6 3140044 602: ZZME/f M15224 00/15.

4 Oct. 9, 1928. 1,686,510

E. w. BELLUCHE SHEET FEEDER Original FiledMarch 12, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 avweutoz ZZMER WfiEL 4 z/cwE.

Patented Oct. 9, 1928 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EIJMER BELL'UGHE, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO DEXTER FOLDER COMPANY, 'OF NEW YORK, N. Y A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SHEET FEEDER.

Original application filed March 12, 1925, Serial N0. 14,991. Divided and this application filed January 15, 1927.

This present application for patent is a division of my pending application Serial Number 14,991 filed March 12, 1925.

My invention relates to machines for sepali rating and feeding successive sheets to a printing-press or other like machine, and I have embodied the novel features of my improvements in a sheet feeder of the type known as continuous feeders in which .a

bank of feathered or fanned-out sheets of paper is gradually carried along the feed board to the separating and feeding devices where the leading ends of the sheets are then acted on b mechanisms for further separat ing and a v ancing the individual sheets to a conveyor mechanism which carries such separated sheets, one by one, to the printing press or other machine. 7

The objects of my invention are, among other things,'to embody in a sheet feeder of this class certain novel features in the feeding devices employed for separating and forwarding the individual sheets from the fanned-out bank whereb .the construction and operation are simpli ed and made more certain and effective.

A further object is also'to provide a novel form of sheet-gripper and reciprocating conveyor mechanism by which the leading edges of the separate sheets moved by the feeding devices beyond the cut-out finger will be seized and advanced to the front stops on the press, coupled with an improved mechanism for imparting a yielding'spring pressure on the upper gripper member adjustable for different thicknesses and weight of stock which pressure will gradually diminish as the grippers advance with the conveyed sheet to be delivered in registering position at the front 40 stops ready to be drawn into the press, the path of the grippers being gradually lowered as the sheet is released and then lifted for the return stroke. I have also combined with such gripper-conveyor mechanism a caliper-' Serial No. 161,258.

then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings show my improvements in their preferred embodiment in a continuous sheet-feeder; such improvements, however, are not to be restricted to'any particular type of sheet-feeder, as these features of invention may be embodied and used in varlous forms of feeders with similar advantages and results.

Of the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the feeder showing its relat1on to a printing-press and also some of the improvements embodied in the feeder;

Flg. 2 is a side elevation view of part of the conveyor mechanism and control devices for the bank feed, the view looking from the right of Fig. 8;

ig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the me 33 of Fig. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Figs. 4 and 5 (combined) show top plan views of the sheet separating devices, conveyor mechanisms and associated parts Fig. 6 is end view of calipering device partly in section;

Fig. 7 vis a side view on the line 7-7 of 6; 1g. 8 is a side elevation view partly in section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 3 and showing conveyor mechanisms with sheetgripper and calipering mechanism;

Fig. 9 1s a diagrammatic side elevation showing the sheetri ers o ened at the end of the back stroke; pp p Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing t e grippers having started ontheir backward stroke; Fig. 11 is a detail top plan view of the sheet-gripper Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of the sheetgri per; and k ig. 13 is a detail View of the ad ust1ng devices for varying the ressure of the upper spring finger of the s eet-gripper.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 8, thecylinder 39 of a frinting-press'or other like machine has the rent stops 40 arranged above the cylinder 39 in roximit to the forward section 41 of the inclined fee board, which section '41 is secured to the brackets 42 aflixed to the cross-bar 43 journalled in side-frames 44 (only one being shown in Fig. 1). Rearwardly ad acent to section 41 is the feed-board section 45 secured.

to the brackets 46 aflixed to the cross-bar 47 which is also journalled to the side frames 44- as shown in Fig. 3. To the rear of section 45 is the feed-board 48 proper mounted on the standards 49 (only one being shown in Fig. 1), over which board 48 moves a series of feed-tapes 50 passing around suitable pulleys 51 and 52 'ournalled in suitable brackets secured to the oard 48 and standards 49 respectively as shown.

' termittently rotate the pulley 51 and advance the tapes 5() as shown by the arrow in Fig. 1 to forward the bank of sheets to the separatin devices as required.

be main head 57 of the feeder comprises the side frames 58 and 59 (Fig. 3') which are held rigidly in vertical position by the tiebar 60 afiixed thereto and extending across the feeder. The flat bottoms of the frames 58 and 59 are adapted to slide on the parallel runway plates 61 and 62 respectively secured to the feed-board 48. To the rear ends of the side frames 58 and 59 are attached the rackbars 63 (only one being shown in Fig. 1) these rack-bars 63 are similarly constructed and extend rearwardly in substantial parallelism above the feed-board 48 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The rear ends of the racks 63 pass through hollow blocks 64 fastened to the feed-board 48 above the standards 49 and the cross-shaft 65 journalled in the blocks 64 carries the gears 66 which mesh with the teeth of the rack-bars 63 as shown in Fig. 1. The shaft 65 may be rotated in either direction by the crank-handle 67 to advance or withdraw the main head 57 sliding on the plates 61 and 62 in the feed-board 48 (Fig. 3)

When the head 57 is to be retracted to the rear position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the sheet conveyor frames 68 pivoted on the tubular'b arings 69 secured to the side frames 58 and '59 (Fig. 3) are first swung upwardly and held in elevated position by mechanisms hereinafter described. Such arrangement, it will be observed. enables the forward sections41 and 45 forming the movable feed-board resting on the side-frames 44 to be separately lifted out of alinement with one another into their dotted line positions (Fig. 1). It will be seen that a sim lo and effective mechanism has been provi ed for advancim and retracting the main head 57 while allowing the pivoted conveyor frames 68 to be raised ofl? the feed-board secthe section 41 in its full line position as a feed-board when feeding the sheets by hand to the press-cylinder 39.

The mechanism for separating and advancing the individual sheets from the fanned-out bank comprises in the resent embodiment the oscillatable suction eed-Wheel 70 (Figs. 3 and 5) which acts to separate and forward the top sheets from the b nk until the front or leading edge of the a vancing sheet acts to move a cut-out or trip finger which inaugurates the action of devices to stop the forward oscillation of the feed-wheel 70, combined with devices to cut-off the suction from such feed-wheel at predetermined'intervals in the cycle of operation to 'release the sheet to be thereafter seized by the sheetgri'ppers and conveyed to the front stops 40 above the press-cylinder 39.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 5, the feed-wheel 70 having a series of perforations 71 formed in its periphery 'is journalled with its hub 72 rotating on the bushing 73 mounted on the hub 74 of the gear 75.

The hub 74 is journalled on the stubshaft 76 aflixed to the wheel bracket 77 which is carried by the depending bracket 78 secured to the tie-bar 60 as shown in Fig. 3. The gear 75 is detachably secured to the wheel 7 O and izsfree to rotate independently of the wheel Motion is imparted to the gear 75 to partially rotate same and so oscillate the feedwheel 7 O in each cycle of the machine by the following mechanism best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5: The drive shaft 84 journalled in the sleeve 85 in the bracket 86 securedto the sideframe 58 by the tie-shaft 87 is actuated from a suitable source of power. The shaft 84 carries the bevel gear 88 which drives the bevel gear 89 loose on the main cam-shaft 9O supported at its outer end by the bushing 91 secured to the bracket 86 (Fig. 3). The gear 89 is operatively connected with a clutch mechanism, best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The rock-lever 92 is pivotally mounted on the gear 89 at 93, one lever end carrying the roll er 94 adapted to bear upon the circular clutch member 95 keyed to the shaft 90 (Fig. 3). A compression spring coiled about the rod 97 pinned to the opposite end of the lever 92 between the collar 98 secured to the gear 89 and the collar 99 adjustably secured to the rod 97 by a set-screw normally maintains the roller 94 in the circular notch 100 cut in the periphery of the clutch member 95 so that the latter is driven by the gear 89; the main cam-shaft 90 keyed to the clutch member 95 thereby is revolved to operate the feeder. The outer clutch member 101 is loosely journalled on the hub 102 of the clutch member 95 (Fig. 3). Projecting into the arcuate slot 103 of the member 101 is the screw pin 104 fastened to the clutch member 95. The pin 104 carries one end ofthe pull coil spring 105 which is fastened at the other end by pin 106 to the clutch member 101. The clutch member 101 carries the notch 107 cut in its periphery which is adapted to be engaged by the tip of the rock-lever 109 j ournalled on the stub-shaft 110 secured to the bracket 86 (Fig. 3). When the clutch is operatively connected the tip of the lever 109 is maintained adjacent the periphery of the clutch member 101 with the roller 94 engaged in the notch 100 through the force of the compression spring 96: when the tip of the rock-lever 109 is swung to the right it is locked in the notch 107 and so prevents the clutch member 101 from rotating. The continued rotation of the gear 89 thereupon forces the roller 94 out of the notch 100 and on to the periphery of the clutch member 95 which is thereby shifted relatively to the clutch member 101 against the tension of the spring 105.

Means are provided to oscillate the feed wheel 70 from the main cam-shaft 90 which is constantly rotated from the power shaft 84 when the feeder is in operation by the mechanisms just described and such means are best shown in Figs. 3 and 4: Keyed to the cam-shaft 90 is the hub 111 of the outer cam 112 adjacent the cam 112 and mounted on the hub 111 is the inner cam 113 secured to the cam 112 by the set-screw 114 in predetermined position (Fig. 3). J ournalled on the stub-shaft 87 is the sleeve 115 having integral therewith the rock-arm 116 carrying the pivoted roller 117 which engages the cam 112: also integral with the sleeve 115 is the rockframe 118 carrying the pivoted roller 119 which engages the cam 113 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The rollers 117 and 119 are joined b the connecting bar 120 which is pinned to Hi e pivots of these cam-rollers 117 and 119. The arms 121 and 122 of the rock-frame 118 carry on their ends the segmental rack 123 secured thereto by the screws 124 and 125 respectively. The teeth of the rack 123 mesh with the gear 126 fastened to the rock-tube 127 extending across the feeder and sleeved about the cam-shaft 90 and rotatably supported thereon by the bushing 128 andv hearings 69 (Fig. The cams 112 and 11.3 are so timed with each other as to import an os cillating movement to the rack 123 which in turn oscillates the rock-tube 127 through the connecting gear 126. The gear 7 5 is oscillated to and fro by rock-tube 127 the gears 75 and 129 beingprcferably contained within the gear guard 130 having a-supporting arm 131 secured to the cross-suction-tube 132 (Figs. 4 and 5) secured in the two conveyor frames 68 on the sides of the feeder.

Suction is applied to the inner face of the rim of the feed-wheel 70 from the suctiontube 132 to the suction shoe 134 having the transverse slot 135 to register with the perforations 71 of the feed-wheel 70 as shown in Fig. 3. The lower slotted guide-plate 138 is fastened above the cross-pipe 144 from which a blast of air is blown against the front edges of the bank of sheets from any suitable air pump not shown.

The sheets from the fanned-out bank adhere to the exterior surface of the feed-wheel 70 throu h the perforations 71 opposite the suction s oe 134 and are separated and advanced by the forward movement of the feedwheel 70 over the guide plate 138 in position for the leading edges of the sheets to be seized by the sheet-conveyor grippers and carried to the press cylinder 39 by mechanisms hereinafter described.

Suction is applied to the suction shoe 134 resting on the inner rim of the feed-wheel 70 to pick up the successive top sheets from any convenient source.

The mechanism for gripping the successive sheets by their leading edges lying on the guide-plate 138 and thereafter for conveying the separate sheets so seized by the grippers to the front stops 40 is best shown in the present embodiment in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 and in detail in Figs. 6, 7, 11-13. I preferably arrange two sets of grippers and sheet-conveyor devices on either side of the feeder: as each set of grippers and their operating mechanisms which are devised to operate in unison are duplicates of each other in structhe gear 129 keyed to the a ture and operation, a description of one set will be sufficient. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the conveyor frames 68 on either side of the feeder carry the forwardly extending conveyor bars 276 rigidly secured thereto by cap-screws 277 and to the supporting standards 278 by cap-screws 279, the standards 27 8 resting on the feed-board section 41 (Fig. 2) when the conveyor-frames 68 are in their lowered operative position. The two standards 278 are rigidly connected by the transverse tie-bar 280. The forward brackets 281 of the conveyor frames 68 carry the ends of the suction tube 132 as shown in Figs. 4 and. '5. Referring to Figs. 3 and 8, the hubs 282 of the sheet-conveyor wheels 283 are keyed to the rock-tube 127, the wheels 283 being l.'Ll'l'l()V- ably secured to the hubs 282 by cap-screws 284 (Fig. 3). J ournallecl on the hubs 282 are the wheel housings 285 held in position by the adjustable end collars 286. The forward ends of the housings 285 are formed with vertical face plates 287 to which are secured by cap-screws 288 the rear ends of the gripper runway-frames 289 as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 8. The front ends of the gripper runway-frames 289 are affixed to the collars 290 mounted on the tie-bar 280. By these devices the wheel housings 285 and gripper runway frames 289 are held together in position on the feed-board when the feeder is in operation, yet they may be swung upwardly as a unit as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 when it is desired to clear the front end of the feedboard sections 41 and 45 and retract the main head 57 Referring to Fig. 8, the wheels 283 have a flat segment 291 formed in their periphery to which is screwed the rear-end of the flexible forwarding bands 292 preferably formed of sheet steel; the bands 292 pass around the peripheries of the wheels 283 inside the circular rims of the housings 285 Figs. 3 and 8) and extend forwardly to the at top 293 of the sheet-gripper carriage 294 to which the band ends are secured by two screws 295 (Figs. 8 and 12). Secured to the under side of the frames 289 are the gripper runways 296 having pinned thereto at 297 the forward cam run-ways 298 as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. As the wheels 283 are oscillated by the rock-tube 127 (in the present embodiment a movement of about 220 degrees), the gripper carriages 294 connected to the wheels 283 by the flexible steel bands 292 are reciprocated to and fro over the feed-board to intermittently forward the successive sheets to the press-cylinder 39 with a resilently yielding connection between the oscillating wheels 283 and gripper car-' riages 294 due to the flexibility of the bands 292.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 8, 11, 12 and 13, the gripper carriage 294 car ries the cross-pin 299 on which is journalled the collar 300 of the frame plate 301 the forward end 302 having the rigid lower gripper finger 303 secured thereto by screws 304 (Flgs. 8 and 12). Projecting rearwardly from the collar 300 is the horizontal arm 305 carrying the pivoted roller 306 which is adapted to engage the runways 296 and 298 (Fig. 8) to control thefpa'th of the reciprocatin gripper carriage 294 over the feedboar sections 41 and 45. Mounted on the pin 299 is the depending bracket 307 a (Fig. 8)

carr ing the pivot-pin 308 on which is mounted t e rock-lever 309. The forward end 310 of the rock-lever 309 is formed with an inclined face 311 towhich the flexible upper gripper finger 312 is secured by screws 313. The finger 312 is preferably formed of a strip of flat steel to make a resilent yielding seizure of the sheet in conjunction with the lower finger 303. The rear arm 314 of the rock-lever 309 carries the transversely extended block 315 (Fig. 11 which is adapted to coact with the bevele face of the plate 317 to open the grippers by raising the upper finger 312 to its dotted line position (Fig. 12) when the rear ends of the gripper carriages 294 are moved to the limit of their rear stroke within the guides 318 secured to the ends of the runways 296 Figs. 3 and 8).. The plate 317 is pivoted to t e pin 319 carried by the bracket 320 secured to the wheel housings 285 (Fig. 3). The bracket 320 carries a split collar 321 in which the cap-screw 322 is threaded, the point of the screw 322 being adapted to bear on the lug 323 integral with the plate 317 to adjust the position of the bevel face so as to accommodate the opening of the sheet gripper fingers 303 and 312 for sheets of different thicknesses.

Referring to Figs. 11, 12 and 13, I have provided a device for varyi g the pressure of the upper spring finger 31 2 011 the lower rigid finger 303 for sheets of difi'erent textures and thicknesses. The frame plate 301 carries the inclined hollow barrel 324 in which is slidably contained the rack sleeve 325 which engages the pinion 326 fastened to the cross-pin 327 pivoted in the plate 301. Within the sleeve 325 is the slidable plug 328 which is adapted to bear on the spring finger 312 adjacent the screws 313 as shown in Fig. 12; the plug 328 has the stem 329 extending through the hole 330 formed in the top of the rack sleeve 325, and coiled about the stem 329 within the sleeve 325 is the compression spring 331 bearing yieldingly on the rear end of the plug 328. Aflixed to the pin 327 is the toothed wheel 332 having the handle 333; adjacent the wheel 332 is the barrel 334 fastened to the carriage 294 and within the barrel 334 is the spring pin 335 adapted to engage with the teeth of the wheel 332 to hold the latter in any predetermined position. The spring-pin 335 to be retracted so that the wheel 332 may be rotated by the handle 333 to revolve the pinion 326 to shift the rack-sleeve in the barrel 324 to vary the pressure of the spring plug 328 on the finger 312 to attain an exceptionally delicate adjustment of the coacting fingers 303 and 312 in seizing and holding the leading edges of the successive sheets advanced thereby. Such pressure adjustment is of advantage in gripping sheets of different thicknesses.

Means are provided (preferably in duplicate as shown in part in Figs. 4 and 5) in connection with the mechanism for advancing and retracting the gripper carriages 294 along the runways 296 whereby the pressure of the sheet grippers on the sheets will gradually diminish as the carriages 294 advance with the conveyed sheet forward the front stops with the path of the sheet-grippers gradually lowered as the sheet is brought into position and released; thereafter the gripper carriages 294 are quickly lifted for the return stroke with the gripper pressure restored in readiness for .the seizure of the next sheet.

Such means in the present embodiment are best shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10: The standards 278 carry at either end the brackets 337 in which is journalled to the rock-shaft 338 (Fig. 2). to which is affixed the depending arm 339 carrying the roller 340 which is adapted to bear on the top surface of the cam-- (Figs. 2 and 5). The lever arm 350 held on the shaft 348 by the nut 351 has pinned thereto the cam-roller 352 which is adapted to engage and ride on the cam 353 fastened to the end of the cam-shaft 90 by the force of the pull spring 354 pinned to the arm 344 and standard 278 as shown in Fig. 2. This cam 353, revolving clockwise as shown in Fig. 2.

. is so timed with relation to the reciprocating movements of the gripper carriage 294 that the gripper is lowered by the roller 306 riding on the cam-runway 298 (Fig. 10) When the gripper reaches the end of its forward movement, the arm 339 is forced to its vertical position when the link 345 is moved to the left as the roller 352 rides over the high part of cam 353. This lowered runway 298 (Fig. 10) raises the gripper so that it will not interfere with the sheet alined against the front stops during its backward movement. In the forward movement of the gripper when the roller 306 rides on the runway 298, the carriage 294travels in the same plane of movement as the band 292. Each carriage 294 carries the pressure spring 331 for the gripper. As the roller 306 engages the run ay 298 the end 302 carrying the finger plate 03 is lowered which causes the finger 312 to lower with it due to the pressure of the spring 331 which pressure is simultaneously diminished so that the gripper fingers may readily slide off the front edge of the sheet alined against the stops 40. In Figs. 9 and 10 the dot and dash lines show the approximate path of the grippers during their forward movement when carrying the successive sheets. As soon as the sheet is released the link 345 and arm 339 are quickly moved to the left to their Fig. 10 pos1t1on for the return stroke of the carriage 294 withthe gripper-fingers 303 and 312 opened toward the end of the stroke when the block 315 engages the bevel face of the plate 317 to open the grippers ready to seize the separated sheet resting on the guide plate 138.

I have also embodied with the sheet-gripper and conveyor mechanisms just described a cal pering device connected with a gripperopening member pivotally carried by the conveyor frames 289 which callipering device Wlll. maugurate the action of devices to open the fingers 303 and 312 if a plurality of overlapped sheets have been separated and selzed by the grippers in any cycle, such member acting to release the sheets before the grippers approach or reach the front stops 40 to enable such overlapped sheets to be removed from the feed-board sections 41 and 45 before such sheets become jammed or clogged in the front stops 40 or press-cylinder 39. Such calipering device in the present embodiment is best shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 and in detail in Figs. 6 and 7: vAs

such calipering device and associated mechav nisms are duplicates on either side of the feeder, a description of the construction and operation of one set will be sufficient. Affixed to the wheel housing 285 by cap-screws 356 is the bracket 357 having the depending arm 358 to which is secured by cap-screws 359 the uide plate 138 and supporting bracket 360 Figs. 6 and 7) which rests on the board section 45 as shown in Fig. 8 to hold the housings in position. The guide plate 138 has the slot 361 formed therein within which slot is arranged theroller 362 pivoted I in the lugs 363 of the bracket 360, the peripheral surface of the roller 362 being flush with the top surface of the guide plate 138. Pinned at 364 to the bracket 357 is the-rockarm 365 carrying at its outer end the crosspin 366 .to which are loosely journalled the spaced-apart wheels 367 adapted to bear by gravity on the under roller 362 as shown in Fig. 6 to hold the sheets fiat on the guide plate 138 adjacent the caliper. is in the form of a segment arranged on the rock-lever 369 pivoted on the pin 370 secured to the bracket 371 pivoted to the pin 372 on the bracket 357. The caliper segment 368 is arranged between the wheels 367 (Figs. 6 and 7), and the upper arm 373 haspinned thereto the link 374- having its forward end slotted at 375 to engage the pin 376 mounted on the gripper-opening member 377 pivoted to the side of the con- The caliper 368 veyor runway frame 289. The pull spring pin 376 at the rear end of the slot 37 5, as

shown in Fig. 8, but gives very slightly as the single sheets pass beneath the caliper 368v thicknesses and texture by mechanisms comprising an upri ht arm 380 integral with the bracket 371 which arm, bears against the tip of the adjusting screw 381 tapped in the split collar 382 fastened to the housin 285, where the screw 381 is held in any fixed position by the binding screw, as shown in Figs. 8, 6 and 7. The pull spring 384 secured to the bracket 357 and arm 380 holds the latter in yielding contact with the ad'usting screw 381.

In operation as t e single sheets are successively carried between the roller 362 and wheels 367 alon the guide plate 138 the caliper 368 is a justed to rock forwardly only to a slight extent which minute oscilla-' tions are taken care of by the lost motion slotted connection between the link 374 and the pin 376, the spring 378 restoring the pin 37 6 to its righthand position in the slot 2375 Figs. 8 and 9, without loweringas shown in the opening member 377 into the plane of the block 315 as the caliper 368-assumes its normal vertical position through gravity. However, should the sheet-gripper fingers 303 and 312 take two or more overlapped sheets simultaneously, the caliper 368 would be swung forwardly to its dotted line position (Fig. 10), thereby straightening the gripper opening-member 377 so as to bring its lower end in horizontal alinement with the block 315 on the gripper carriage 294. As soon as the block 315 strikes this opening-member 377, the gripper fingers 303 and 312 are immediately opened to release the overlaped sheets midway on the feed-board sections 41 and 45 which sheets may beremoved by the o erator while the gripper carriage 294 comp etes its forward stroke toward the front stops 40.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 8, the top surface of the feed-board section 45 is preferably formed above the cross-bar 47 with the transverse depression 385 into ,which is fit.- ted the plate 386 hinged at 387 to the section 45 along the rear-edge of the plate. The cross-bar 47 has the finger 388 journalled thereto, andadjacent the finger 388 is the spring 389 coiled about the bar 47 with one end bearing on the under side of the section is held in its partially raised position by means of the finger 388, such plate partially supports the front margins of the top sheets of the bank, and also aids in positioning such sheets beneath the feed-wheel in conjunc- Leeann tion with the lower guide plate 138. After the main-head 57 is retracted with the upraised conveyor frames 68 as hereinbefore described (Fig. 1), such plate 386' may be lowered on the hinge 387 to form a part of the top surface of the feed-board section 45.

The operation of my sheet-feeder is substantially as follows: When the bank of fanned-out sheets is lying on the feed-board 48 with the top'marginsfresting on the hinged plate 386 and guide plate 138, the suction applied to the suction shoe 134 through the perforations 71 of the feed-wheel 70 picks up the top sheet, the air blasts from the pipe 144 tending to separate the front edges of the top sheets. As the wheel 70 is rotated in a forward clockwise direction b ing gears 75 and 129 actuate by the rocktube 127, the top sheet is separated and ad-' vanced over the guide plate 138. I I

As the advanced sheet is brought over the guide plate 138, the gripper carriages 294 have reached the'limit of their back stroke as shown in Fig. 9. Then the wheels 283. be in their forward oscillations with the flexible bands 292 carried in the housings 285 causthe oscillat- I ing the carriage, 294 to be moved forwardly over the feed-board sections 41 and 45 with the 'rollers 306 in rolling contact with the runway 296; when the gripper carriages 294 approach the end of their forward movement, the-rollers 306 reach the pivoted cam runway 298 which is then lowered as shown in Fig.

10 by the action of the cam 353; as the roller 306 runs along the runway 298, the pressure of the gripper fingers 303 and 312 on the sheet'is gradually relaxed as heretofore described becausethe roller 306 moves along the inclined cam surface 355 of the lowered runway 298, such fingers-sliding off the sheet as the gripper carriage 294 ends its forward movement; the dot and dash lines in Figs. 7

9 and 10 show diagrammatically the approximate path of the sheets as they are conveyed to the front stops 40. At the. end of the forward stroke the cam runways 298 are quickly lowered by the action of the cam 353 and the reverse rotation of the wheels 283 carries the gripper carriages 294 back to their Fig. 9 position. Should two or more sheets be seized, the calipering device heretofore described will open the sheetgg'rippers 303 and 312 before they reach the front stops 40 and as soon as the block 315 strikes the gripperopening member 377 which has been swung to its vertical dotted line position shown in Fig. 10 through the forward movement of the caliper 368 as shown by dotted lines.

The foregoing constructions embody the es sential principles of my invention as a preferred embodiment in a continuous sheetfeeder, but various changes may be made in the structural details and in the types of sheet-feeders in which such constructions are installed, for example, a pile-feeder, without departing from the scope of my improvements. However the foregoing is'sufiicient to disclose the underlying principles and advantages as particularly applied to a sheetfeeder of the continuous type.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sheet-feeder, a plural sheet calipering device and sheet-conveying devices controlled thoreby to ,release'the conveyed plural sheets.

2. In a sheet-feeder, a reciprocatable sheetconveying devices provided with grippers, and means to open said grippers before the end of their forward stroke when a plurality of sheets have been seized by said grippers.

3. In a sheet-feeder, reciprocatable sheet-- conveying devices provided with grippers,

and tripping mechanism to open said grippers before the end of their forward stroke when a plurality of sheets have been seized by said grippers.

1. In a sheet-feeder, a plural sheet calipering device and reciprocatable sheet-conveying devices controlled thereby to release the conveyed plural sheets forward stroke.

5. In a sheet-feeder, reciprocatable sheetconveying devices provided with grippers and means for opening said grippers during their forward movement without stopping the normal reciprocations of said conveying devices.

ward the sheet to 6. In a sheet-feeder, reciprocatable sheetconveying devices provided with grippers and means controlled by a plural sheet calipering device for opening said grippers during their forward movement without stopping the normal reciprocations of said conveying devices.

7 In a sheet-feeder, front stops, sheet-conveying devices provided with grippers to forsaid front stops, and means for opening said grippers to release the sheet before said devices reach said stops.

8. In a sheet-feeder, front stops, sheet-conveying devices provided with grippers to forward the sheet to said front stops, a plural sheet calipering device, and means controlled by said calipering device for opening said grippers to release the sheet before said devices reach said stops.

9. In a sheet-feeder, front stops, sheet-conveying devices provided with grippers to forward the sheet to said front stops, a plural sheet calipering device, and tripping mechanism controlled by said calipering device for opening said grippers to release the sheet before said devices reach said stops.

10. In a sheet-feeder, sheet-conveying devices provided with rippers, means for imparting a gradually diminishing spring pressure on the grippers while lowering said debefore the end of their I stroke when a vices during the forward movement of said conveying devices, and a tripping mechanism to open said grippers before the end of their forward stroke when a plurality of sheets have been seized thereby.

12. In asheet-feeder, sheet-conveying devices provided with grippers, means for imparting a gradually diminishing spring pressure on the grippers while lowering said devices during the forward movement of sand conveying devices and a tripping mechanism to open said grippers at a predetermined point before the end of their forward stroke when 2 plurality of sheets have been seized there- 13. In a sheet-feeder, sheet-separating devices, sheet-conveying devices provided with grippers to seize the separated sheets, means for imparting a gradually diminishing sprin pressure on the grippers while lowering sai devices during the forward movement of said conveying devices, and means to open said grippers before the end of their" forward plurality of sheets have been seized thereby.

14. In a sheet-feeder, reciprocatable sheet devices provided with grippers,

conveying and means determined ward stroke when a been seized by said grippers.

15. In a sheet-feeder, reciprocatable sheetconveying and tripping mechanism to open said grippers at a predetermined point before the end of their forward stroke when a plurality of sheets have been seized by said grippers.

to open said grippers at a pre point before the end of their forplurality of sheets have v devices provided with grippers, 1

16. In a sheet-feeder, a plural sheet'cali- I pering device and reciprocatable sheet-conveying devices controlled thereby to release the conveyed plural sheets at a variabl predetermined point before the end of them ward stroke.

17. In a sheet-feeder, reciprocatable sheetconveying devices provided with grippers and means for opening said grippers at a point before the end of their forward movement without stopping the normal reciprocations of said conveying devices.

. ELMER w. BELLUCHE.

for 

